Three new Battalion Chiefs for South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue recently promoted three men to the position of Battalion Chief, a move that Fire Chief Jeff Meston says will improve safety for both citizens and personnel.

Jim Drennan, Tim Spencer and Karl Koeppen are all now Battalion Chiefs for the City of South Lake Tahoe. Between them, they have over 61 years of firefighting experience.

To create the new positions, Meston and the City negotiated with the firefighter's union to eliminate three firefighter positions to help fund the new salary needs. They took the salary of the old shift commander position, plus the three firefighter wages to allow the budget to handle the new salary needs. If the union hadn't approved the move, the City would have been left with the odd position of Shift Commander according to Meston.

“It’s rare in one’s career to be able to test for and promote three Battalion Chiefs all at the same time," said Chief Meston. "I am honored and appreciative of both our internal promotions and hiring our outside Battalion Chief. This step is yet another improvement within our Fire and Life Safety System that will benefit our citizens, visitors and improve our firefighter safety. Thank you to our City Council, City Manager and Firefighters Association for supporting this much needed addition to our staff.”

The new team of chiefs are going through an academy Meston has put together, complete with guest speakers, leadership training and other necessary skills for the new leaders.

Until the beginning of 2017, Drennan, Spencer and Koeppen are switching shifts around to get to know all of the fire team. They said it builds consistency in how they lead and builds good friendships. They are all based out of Fire Station #1 which is located at the corner of Ski Run Blvd and Pioneer Trail.

"From three years ago to where we are today as a department, we're light years ahead," " said Drennan. All fire department employees now take part in the decision making process, take part in discussions and know their input is valued, he said.

One big change, besides their name change from South Lake Tahoe Fire Department to South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue, is the fact that they are no longer looked at as a training ground for other cities. Staff would transition out and take jobs elsewhere, now they are lining up to come work for the City. "That is the best yardstick that things are good on the hill."

Spencer said, even in the short time he's been on board, he receives numerous phone calls from other fire departments to see if SLT is hiring. A big part of that is the elimination of a fire based ambulance service, with EMTs and paramedics now staffing those. Firefighters are now firefighters and not driving an ambulance off the hill on one of the frequent interfacility transfers that was once a job duty.

"We're excited where we're headed," added Koeppen. "The community has a great fire service they can be proud of."

Jim Drennan, 41, joined Lake Valley Fire Department as a volunteer in 1998, moving to a reserve firefighter with the City in 2000 and full-time by 2002. When asked what his favorite part of the job is, he said "answering calls." The most memorable fire he responded to was the 2007 Chateau Fire on the corner of Park Avenue and Cedar. An arsonist had set fire to the three story motel which had two full floors of guests asleep in their rooms. In just the two minutes it took his engine to respond, the motel was fully engulfed in flames. Everyone made it out safely and there were no reported injuries.

He and wife Jen have two children, Cameron and Kaitlyn.

Karl Koeppen, 44, has been a full time employee of the department since 2002 as well, and he too started off as a volunteer and reserve firefighter. He doesn't have just one favorite part of the job. Koeppen loves the hands on work, interacting with the crew, handling calls and the friendships involved in SLTFR. The Angora Fire is his most memorable experience. He was a fairly new captain at the time, with just three months under his belt with the call came in. "It got so big, so fast," Koeppen said. "It was unpredictable." He said it was tough responding in your own community, knowing the burning homes belonged to your friends.

He and his wife Kellee have two children, Karlee and Kade.

The new man in the department is also the Battalion Chief with the most experience. Tim Spencer,52, came to South Lake Tahoe from Reno Fire Department where he retired as Division Chief to take the new job up the hill. His fire career started in the Air Force where he started serving in 1982. In 1989 he started with RFD, and was there until the job in South Lake Tahoe became available, one he is very excited about.

He and his wife Diann have four daughters, Alyssa, 26, Jenna, 24, Samantha, 22 and Tara, 14. Since the youngest will be a freshman at Galena in the fall, he will continue to live in Reno and commute the hour to Tahoe.